Marshall vs. Blackstar - Which 40-watt amp is best?

We put the Marshall DSL 40 against the Blackstar HT Club 40 MkIII in a head-to-head amp shootout. Hear both channels on each, plus the direct-out performance. The No Fear Gear team lets you hear each dialed-in for a direct comparison; which do you prefer? Join the dialog and tell us in the comments.
Both are available at Sweetwater:
· Marshall DSL 40 sweetwater.sjv.io/0Z3zJY
· Blackstar HT Club 40 MkIII sweetwater.sjv.io/vNrmnW
No Fear Gear Guides:
‪@jimmyfranklin‬
‪@dredimura‬
‪@TomButwin‬

[@kirkr1961]

Like the format of three presenters with a random A/B of each amp. Pretty cool.

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Thanks. We are testing various ideas to find some approaches that are most useful to those that really want to learn more about the gear. Your positive feedback is greatly appreciated.

[@JBouch33]

Was literally deliberating between these exact two amps. It's like you guys made this video just for me haha I'm going with the Marshall though. It sounds more robust in my opinion. Thanks so much guys!

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

We are glad that it helped. We would love to hear your experience with your new amp if you do get it.

[@adamstein9333]

Marshall is def. Best Live. Blackstar is better for direct recording. You made the right decision, and there’s plenty of options to upgrade for direct recording on the DSL

[@jessetate9701]

Definitely Marshall cut out presence alittle

[@freespeech-advocate]

Evh 5150 iconic wipes both these amps out, IMO!

[@stringlocker]

Not a big coincidence there's a lot of people thinking about buying one of these.

[@thepizzaveteran]

I own a Marshall and a Blackstar so I’m not biased in my pick. For me the Marshall wins in every category except the direct out, the Blackstar crushes that category.

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Great to hear from someone that has the product and from someone that does not hear with their eyes. 😉 Thanks for adding your perspective here.

[@jjavelar]

100%

[@kaptkrunchfpv]

Ditto, except I dont own either. Yet...

[@jasonsapp792]

I own the DSL20HR and DSL100HR ..... Owned a Friedman Runt 20 head and the DSL20HR could do everything the Runt could do and has Reverb and has a better dirty tone... The 100HR for the price hits far above it weight... Well both do I think .. never tried a Blackstar

[@brickmeister2128]

I love my Marshall dsl 40 and won't be changing anytime soon to any other amp

[@saltyassassin]

Definitely. The didn’t Mike them right.

[@sidepart8339]

Does it sounds kinda bright ?

[@whatarefriends4]

Yeah dsl 40 rules

[@brickmeister2128]

@@sidepart8339 Kinda..but you can darken it too. Best of both worlds.

[@aitken1965]

The clean tone in the DSL40Cr is excellent, which was a bit of a surprise to me when I bought mine. It does the Marshall thing really well, and with the optional 6 button foot switch it’s extremely versatile.

[@andrewslads]

That's because it has a celestion 70/80 which is designed to be balanced and a good compromise . The drive will sound bright fizzy and shrill though .

[@aitken1965]

@@andrewslads The DSL40CR has a V-type

[@andrewslads]

@@aitken1965 yes you are correct . Sorry I missed that one . Prob explains why the amp sounds better than the 20 watt version .

[@cornellpearce5686]

I narrowed my search down to these same two amps. In person the Marshall sounded thin and brittle compared to the Blackstar on all three channels! It wasn’t a hard decision for me. Even the salesman was surprised by how much better the Blackstar is. I even bumped up to the HT Venue 60 watt, for the extra $100 it’s giving me more clean headroom.

[@sjoerdyt9248]

People are sleeping on it, and honestly, in this video as well, Blackstar is done dirty. The overdrive sound is so much better irl, that I’m not sure if they miced wrong, or didn’t eq, but it sounds godawful in this vid

[@guitarman3001]

@@sjoerdyt9248 Yep, in person my Blackstars sound nothing like this video.

[@kesmarley]

I’m with Marshall

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Thanks for joining the conversation. Another vote for Marshall noted! ✔️

[@cjcravatta9679]

I bought the dsl despite all the hate. Upgraded tubes and speaker and it’s an absolute beast!

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

That is great to hear, thanks for sharing here. I do not think the DSL has gotten much hate here. The feedback in the comments have been split and it really points out the the two products are pretty different and fill different needs. It is awesome that we all have the variety available to us and happiness is finding the right one for each of us. For sure that is our goal.

[@jackklenk4352]

At that point just get a different amp.

[@stringlocker]

Don't waste too much money on changing tubes. I'm not sure what an upgrade means

[@angusyoung7668]

I’ve been a Marshall user for a while now I’ve played some black stars and they rock. But I prefer the Marshall’s though but I’d definitely get a few black stars too!

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Thanks for joining the dialog here and sharing your experience.

[@1997LT1Camaro]

Marshall’s overdrive sounds way better.

[@fratele---Cain]

Nope....Marshall =💩

[@MichielN26]

@@fratele---CainHAHAHAHA

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

Awesome demo! I have owned the BS and currently the DSL 40CR and the Marshall IMO wins on the tone. Clean, crunch and OD channels. The line out/ headphones is gawd awful. The BS's emulated out is outstanding along with the cab rig.

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Thanks for sharing your insights. Awesome to hear from players that have owned both. Very helpful!

[@butcho7492]

I just got a DSL40CR and a 50s Les Paul Standard. I am just an amatuer who plays for fun. I've never had more fun playing guitar. ☺️

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

That sounds great. Guitar should be fun. Enjoy!

[@KaiserVonWilhelm1]

I am about to take delivery of my 50's Epiphone Les Paul. I play mainly through headphones because of my family. But any time I go to a store and play through amps its amazing, which lead me to look at amps now. I think I have decided on the Marshall. I was really close to buying a Blues JR IV, but I think the gain channels on the Marshall sound amazing

[@pg9193]

record it and let us hear!

[@sorenchristensen2149]

Bought a blackstar because it was the only tube amp in my price range at the local guitar store but man I got lucky because I just love the warm smooth sound

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Great to hear from a real owner of one of the amps. Thanks for sharing that input here.

[@jimmcdougall9973]

The miking and volume settings were in favour of the Marshall. But I would go with the Blackstar. The ISF knob makes it such a versatile rock amp, which did not come across in the video.

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Thanks for joining the dialog, great feedback!

[@jimmcdougall9973]

@@73prd it adjusts EQ and gain range. Yours was broken.

[@jimmcdougall9973]

@@73prd hard of hearing?

[@diegozunigagtz4602]

Hahahaha you aré kidding right?? Is great! Blackstar wins for that​@@73prd

[@73prd]

@@diegozunigagtz4602 blackstar suck

[@stewarttomkinson3356]

Blackstar sounds better with the emulation out

[@mcfek8295]

Yes and that is very useful on many venues so you didnt need a mic

[@saltyassassin]

No way. These guys didn’t Mike it right. DSL sounds awesome

[@stewarttomkinson3356]

@ my Origen sounds good through 2 ,2-12

[@yaraatom3179]

The Blackstar amplifier sounds more closed due to the lack of the Preference knob, which is present in the 60-watt version. That's why most people choose Marshall, because it is this knob that is responsible for the openness that Marshall provides. The 60-watt version of Blackstar solves this problem, and for me this was the key reason why I paid extra and took 60W Blackstar, and not 40W.

[@photoguy4212]

Both sound pretty good. They have their own things going on. The Marshall is a little crispy/ brittle but still iconic. Blackstar is a little dark but has a nice chunk and blues breakup. Can't go wrong with either.

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Great perspective, thanks!

[@johngee4306]

Own both a Marshall 215c and an HT40. The Blackstar is a great all round amp that is incredible value for the price. If you’re in a covers band like me playing all genres in a gig, the Blackstar by far is your best choice for tone and versatility. The effects loop is super quiet, nice clean reverb and the emulated out is excellent.

[@Waltharius-mu3nq]

Hi, very usefull demo ! About the marshall, is this the dsl40 with the celestion 70/80, or the dsl40 cr with the V-type ?

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Thank you for your comment and question! The Marshall we used is the DSL40 with a G12 V-Type speaker.

[@Waltharius-mu3nq]

@@NoFearGuitarGear ok thanks !

[@CanadianRockerGuy]

Marshall sounded better overall except for the emulated out, but even that can be tweaked, I own the DSL and I'm very happy I chose it over the Blackstar, which is also a great amp in it's own right, but I do own the Blackstar Metal LT pedal because I do like Blackstar also, and it's alot more affordable than the amp, and that Metallica riff sealed the deal on the Marshall! Good shootout boys!

[@dukefan37923]

I have the Blackstar HT Club MKII. The stock speaker it came with was more meant for metal - not very versatile. I switched it to a Warehouse 12" Retro 30 and it sounds bad ass now. Soooooo versatile. I'd take my modded one over either of these two. I got my amp used, so I had plenty of room money wise built in there for a speaker swap. Both these amps sound good though.

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and observations. Very helpful!

[@jdeezy5001]

What power speakers on those retro 30s?

[@johngee4306]

The Blackstar just needs a speaker upgrade and it’s as good as anything out there.

[@JamesPartridge-u5y]

Had both returned Blackstar

[@frankorobinson1540]

Glad i choose what i clearly thought sounded best to me and bought it 😊the Marshall.

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Excellent. Thanks for sharing your experience with us and the group here. 🙏🏼

[@maddoxmay611]

To be honest, I have to go with the blackstar, the Marshall for some reason has a really poky unpleasant high end fizzyness that it unpleasant to the ears. I think a part of it might be the speaker, if there was a more balanced speaker in it like a greenback or a creamback, it might sound more pleasing to the ears

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Thanks for joining the dialog.👍🏼

[@carsten9168-hs4gs]

I have to pick the Marshall as the sound is unmistakable, more grounded and heavy.

[@zaccarter3801]

I mean Marshall for Marshall tone right? Personally, I think the blackstar is more well rounded. Better recording features, better reverb, and good sounds. The 4w mode on blackstar makes it passable at home. Marshall only cuts it down to 20watts. Obviously you have to manage volumes for both of those at home. I just think blackstar is a better all around pick if you use a bit of everything and play a bit of everything. Other than that, Marshall is the best for a Marshall tone. With a Marshall I’d definitely need a reverb pedal. Blackstar might need one too but I can hold off. The cabrig system is very user friendly and has helped me get into using more software. As a hobbyist for guitar, I enjoyed how versatile and easy to use the blackstar is.

[@MarkStearle]

on the fence between the Blackstar,Revv 25 or Bad Cat Black Cat,what do you prefer,thanks

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Tough decision with those three. We have an older Bad Cat and love it. The Blackstar has become our go-to in-studio amp since we used it for this shootout, so we know that is a good one. Have not had our hands on the Revv. Sorry that we can not be more helpful, but maybe someone else here in the comments have have tried some of those and can chime in.

[@MarkStearle]

@@NoFearGuitarGear thanks for your advice,will try out the Blackstar today

[@corytaylor8673]

Ayyyy working class Jimmy! Killed it

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

We loved having Jimmy be part of this. He is awesome.

[@SusanCapurso]

The Marshall hands down... Thanks guys !

[@jp0blues04]

I own plexis and slo’s and tweeds like u guys but I DID buy the mark 2 blackstar ht 40 and although its more compressed sounding than the Marshall I really have character. The dsl sound shrill and thin as ever. Like chewing on a tin can. Both have their things

[@keeponplaying2625]

Yes, Marshall by far! This amp is also well constructed and easy to bias and repair - big plus also !

[@bigbelafonte8237]

Lets be honest, 99% of people picking the blackstar own a blackstar lol

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

It is likely Blackstar owners will often select Blackstar in a comparison like this and Marshall is the predictable pick for Marshall owners. We all have our preferences and getting accustomed to one brands sound does tend to lock in some sonic preferences as well as those brand name biases. Some players really are agnostic and want all the insights available, there is something for everyone in this guitar gear world we all live in today. A very good thing. 🤘🏽

[@bigbelafonte8237]

@@NoFearGuitarGear well said 🤝

[@davidcaro8217]

Too true. I have both amps. Love them both, but I generally gig with the Blackstar.

[@bigbelafonte8237]

@@davidcaro8217 Kudos to you, i would have a hard time turning down tubey tubes for a solid state amp especially for a live audience. I havnt had a solid state since i was a kid but generally i would assume the practical thing to do is practice at home with a solid state, tube might be too much hassle with tone & respectful volume unless you have an attenuator. & gig with the tube so you can finally crank those valves, get that crushing tone that would be too much in the house, & give the audience a treat that they all deserve! But to each their own, cheers 🍻

[@neneaanghel7016]

​@@bigbelafonte8237 Actually the blackstar is tube, they have some solid state parts wich many amps from marshall( jcm 900, Silver Jubilee) have. Blackstar ht are tube amps with preamp and poweramp tubes. I love both

[@evandecker220]

I find the Marshall to be somewhat harsh sounding especially in the clean setting , also has to be quite loud to get the fullness and crunch from the OD Chanel that I like .

[@nathanelliasin8739]

Blackstar also good sound. But for me Marshall is great choice in concert.

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

@nathanelliasin8739 thanks!

[@nicknak5257]

I have the blackstar 50w head and the clean channel is total pap in my opinion. I have to have the tone all the way up and it's still dull and muddy. The lead channel is usable for solos but again you can't dial the muddiness out for rhythm. I'm getting the DSL.

[@leoguzman2104]

Marshall the cleans were way batter and sounds more Open

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Thanks for that comment and being part of the discussion here.

[@jameshenderson9830]

Marshall is just consistently awesome.

[@tonya4157]

DSL

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Thanks for joining the dialog here!

[@tonya4157]

​@NoFearGuitarGear I thought the Blackstar sounded best through it's DI. It does have an advantage in that aspect but add a Two Note or whatever to the DSL and it's back on top. It's nice to have separate EQs for clean and drive on the Blackstar but it doesn't seem to take advantage of it. Can't confirm it but believe that Blackstar's ISF feature is just the Contour control that Marshall used on it's Valvestate and MG amps years ago. You forgot to mention the 2 master volumes on the DSL and that are programmable to control any 2 of the 4 voicings. Also that there's a 7 button footswitch available for it. Then, throw in warranty, service and maintenance and the DSL pulls away.

[@viciousraccoon4961]

The nicest sound out of all of them was the blackstar direct ouput. Think it needs a different speaker to really get the best out of it.

[@patriklid416]

In the past I was thinking about Blackstar, but then Marshall started to produce DSL40CR and I couldn't resist buying it. It sounds great and with a 6 way footswitch you can control everything without touching buttons on the amp. I compared it with JVM410H and it has so many sound options, but none of them sound as good as DSL40CR. JVM was a bit dissapointment for me. Unfortunately I have to admit DSL40CR is not very reliable. I had many of them and except for one each of them started to have some technical issues during the time. I had also DSL100HR which is almost the same amp, but louder and with no issues. Maybe I had just a bad luck for combos, but there were so many different issues to say it was just a coincidence.

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Thanks for sharing your experiences here. That is helpful info.

[@nightsky3477]

For durability,and component consistemcy,definitely the Marshall.With the company history alone behind it,its a winner. Tonally,and for ease of recording,the Blackstar was amazing..live too.(our band had both)However,after we went thru 3 of 'em,and discovered parts at that time had no cross-reference for the techs,we traded out for Kempers...

[@MisterChitlin-r1f]

like them both......Marshall tone has less mid/bass which probably cuts thru better when the band is playing. Bstar amp sounds a bit muddy and may get lost in the mix once the band joins in - the big city nights riff showcased that very well

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Great points, we appreciate the perspective.

[@vovokidx9691]

is it loud enough for gigs

[@Matthew_Scan]

Blackstar wins cleans Marshall wins dirty

[@KennethCrickmore-sl8jl]

My tiny Blackstar ID Core stereo 40 Is literally half the size of the amp you have there and when I add a pair of switched 1/4 in output jacle to drive a pair of external speaker cabe I can get more full tone at a decent volume and if i add internal amps to the extension cabs I'll get even more. these will be a pair of 4X12" vertical/tower cabs that when stood together side by side with the amp laid face down on top of the cabs will essentially be a Full Stack. the switched output jacks disable the internal speakers when in use so laying the amp front down on top of the cabs the amp controls and jacks are facing forward. for easier access, the external cab output jacks will be recessed in the bottom of the amp cab to face rearward when in use the cabs and custom cables I will make myself to my design. I don't plan to use regular guitar speakers in the build but cheap woofers and small amp boards available on Amazon and small power supply for each mounter inside the cabs as with the powered subwoofer in my surround sound system which I can also hook the amp into through an adapter cable from the 1/8In stereo optput jack of the amp to 2 RCA's into the CD in of the surround system receiver for louder and fuller tones., at 65 I'm child of the '70's and like my music loud and proud. My custom Strat I built has a mand made custom brushed stainless steel pick guard loaded with 3 quad rail/coil humbuckers wired like a classic 50's Les Paul with a third pair of control pots , chrome knobs ,chrome switch tip on the Fender 5-way blade stitch 500K audio taper P/P volume pots and the 500k audio taper tone pots with the bridge a P/P tone to activate the neck and bridge pick ups together regardless of the 5-way switch position. tone caps are .047 orange drop caps for a little brighter tone for that brighter Strat tone so that the active coils when split are toward the bridge for a more Strat like tone as well. wiring all the controls and pickups was quite an adventure to say the least... This being my very first guitar build/mod project made it a real challenge but I gained a lot of experience and enhanced my woodworking skills. researching techniques online for all the wiring for electronics paint techniques fir the stars and planets space theme paint scheme on the body and head stock with a combination of spray cans and airbrushed details with silver micro glitter accented with dark blue paint to tint it and a semi-gloss finish. over a black and dark blue background. evokes the new name I gave the unique and cool looking guitar..Other mods and upgrades include roller bridge saddles replacing the cheap pot metal trem block with a full size solid brass trem block, roller string trees a titanium nut and locking tuners. also strap locks to keep the guitar where I want it to stay. I call it the "Stellarcaster" in keeping with it's "Starcaster-Strat" roots. taken to the next level... it's well set-up. frets well polished,fretboard oiled jus right and strings tuned to E-Flat standard like any good Strat should be to sound as good as it looks. Wanna Play??? . The number of tonal variations available are virtually unlimited when added to the options in the amp as well. and then we have the in built effects in the amp added into the mix. What fun trying to find them all and experiment with all the knobs and switches...It looks so good just hanging up there on my wall and even better slung on my shoulder while I play it. I use hand made custom picks that I made frpm old hotel card keys from various hotels that the commercial laundry service that I worked for provided wash and fols services and well and the towels and linens. It's amazing what all comes mixed in with all that laundry thai I had to pre-sort to send to the main sorting line and on to the wash tunnels and dryers then in to the dry and fold machines for linins abd pneumatic towel folders and back into the transport bins that they arrived in to start. I have a collection of about 500 card keys to cut and sand to the right size and shape to use as the cool custom picks i make them into. using a pick punch would be a little easire to get the right shape with a little less work but, I get the job done just fine the way I do it now. The colors are whatever colors and patterns they come in but that is part of their charm I think. good sharp scissors and some good sandpaper work just fine to get me where I want to go with the picks i make for myself. cost next to nothing and only a little time invested. I can make them whenever i get the itch to keep my hands busy for a while. I can get up to 6 picks from a single card which are about the same dimensions as any credit/debit card available anywhere .without embossed letters or numbers. , only smooth printed colorful cards. the magnetic strip in them makes no diff at all anyway. and you cant see it either. retirement and being widoww3d means I have way too much time on my hands. I can use than overly abundant time for whatever i want. Usually surfing the web , eating if I want or sleeping whenever i feel like. or I might do some yard work that needs taken care of. a little exercise is good for me too. the next guitar project is a Tele Based Esquire with classic wiring. maybe a thin line type semi-hollow. I'll use the Tele Bridge P/U given to me by Dylan of 'Dylan Talks Tone You tube channel in a random give away. It's just waiting for a guitar to go into whenever i make it. I may use non traditional materials in it's construction. I like to experiment and challenge myself. ADHD all my life tends to make me restless and bored most of the time if I don't have something to hold my interest. Challenging myself in a custom guitar build is a good way to entertain myself and learn new skills. ... Remember that along with the ADHD comes an above average I.Q. as well and insatiable curiosity. and thirst for learning new and interesting things no matter how old I get, I still enjoy learning new and interesting things So . my new guitar hobby will allow mw to literally build my own guitar collection by myself and I can take pride in having done it myself. I plan to make various versions of many different guitars...and experiment with new shapes and materials as i explore the guitar hobby a sfar as it takes me. different shapes, colors, Pick-ups wiring. and the rest. I want to make cool guitars that look, feel and play good. Interesting to do with my hands using skills and tools while making interssting good looking and well made guitars I can be proud to have made with my own hands. fingers get a little stiff sometimes but I muddle through.

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

We have not checked out that Blackstar amp it sounds interesting. It also sounds like you have some really cool projects and lots of creative stuff. Thanks for checking out our video.

[@joanngielink5978]

So what's the name of your book?

[@martinlahaie6012]

For god sakes....enough geez

[@mxt217]

what amp has a better modern, 2000s hard rock, metal sound??

[@guitarman3001]

Blackstar, easy. Seriously, not even close.

[@mxt217]

@ i see a couple in my local guitar center. But no headphone jack. I also use a messa pedal so i’m thinking some can work.

[@michaelgarcia2050]

The Marshall is set with more high-end EQ. It would have been better to set the EQ of both amps similarly, because what we're hearing MAY be amp differences, but may also be EQ differences.

[@evandecker220]

It’s hard to get a clean sound that work and a dirty sound that works if you’re switching live with the Marshall, it’s like this delicate balancing act with the shared EQ

[@Jojobachelors]

I own a Blackstar HT Club40 and a small Marshall 5210 50w. Love both...Blackstar for more hardrock sound and the Marshall for more clean commercial rock , Clean sound on Marshall is also more clear

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Great to hear from someone that owns the amp, thanks.

[@aproctor1968]

I own the 60 watt Blackstar (2x12 cab). It's the next best thing to a Marshall if you want the Marshall sound, but it has a lot more flexibility than a Marshall in my opinion. I would not turn down either if I showed up for a gig though.

[@destroso]

I own the DSL, I like is more sizzle like. The black star sounds good also but seems more suited for metal.

[@adamwatson6916]

The DSL 40 sounds great in stock form but it sounds alot better with a tube and speaker upgrade but it esoecially 2 sounds better when ran through a 2 by 12 or 4 by12 or an oversized 1 by 12 and sounds bettet still if those cabs are closed backk Celestion Creamback M65 the Creamback H75 and G12H30 Heritage are among the best i have tried with the DSl Amps . The Creamback M65 are the best stand alone speakers i have tried with the DSl and the best matched pairing in a 2 by 12 but my absolute favorite sound of the DSL is pairing a Creamback M65 and a vintage 30 either together in a 2 by 12 or having the M65 installed in the combo paired with a vintage 30 loaded 1 by 12. I really love the open back Creamback M65 loaded combo with the closed back vintage 30 1 by 12 sounds more vintage than using both those speakers in a 2 by 12. The combo sounds killer in it's own right with the Creamback M65. That speaker sounds like it was made for that amp.

[@colinmortimore218]

I think the stock V Type sounds great!

[@atanasmarinov1814]

Marshall is the one and only, and the best !

[@fabriziourso6262]

Hi, the point is the amplifiers are not comparable in terms of OD tone. The EQ, gain and volume settings are completely different so to me this kind of test is not valid. Please do a fair test between them and come back to us to show it. A part this problem the blackstar's direct out is killer, and the clean tone sounds better too.

[@dadkingcoffey8333]

Marshall all the way

[@fabianborg1428]

I would like to ask what is the name of the song you play for the brown test at 7:26

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

That was inspired by "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" by Van Halen

[@fabianborg1428]

@@NoFearGuitarGear thanks 👍, I ordered the HT Club 40 Mark III thanks to your review

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

We are glad that you found the video helpful. We would love to hear from you after you get the Blackstar and get to use it for a while. We really value multiple perspectives and want to hear your observations. All the best 🤘🏽

[@shawnroberts5634]

Marshall has almost no low end, the direct out sounds like nothing but harsh mids. The Black Star isn't as bright or sparkly sounding, but it has the smoother more inviting top-end. Plus the direct out on the Black Star sounds even better than the speaker. Totally record ready.

[@christopherguzzi1316]

Overall my vote is for the Marshall. The Blackstar sounded boxier.

[@rinycurzi4024]

hello what is this riff you play at 3'20, I don't remember it

[@armff4817]

Big city nights from scorpions

[@eddiezandqoystudio]

I bought a Marshall DSL40 few months ago.. the clean was good but other than that i was a lil bit disappointed, reverb was really bad, and the built in extra gain stuff wasn't so satisfying... worst of all the amp started making very disturbing crackling noises and when i sent it the back to the dealer he said that this is a common issue in this model! So bad experience for me and checking for the Blackstar now lets see

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Thanks for taking the time to share your experience here. That is helpful info to others checking this video out, providing another perspective.

[@yankeesrule64]

To my ears on both the Marshall sounded better

[@vovokidx9691]

is it loud enough for a club

[@cliffords2315]

Marshall DSL40CR with a Celestion Vintage 30, best sounding 40 watt amp in a decade

[@angusorvid8840]

I prefer the Blackstar. DSL are sort of blah. I dig the JVMs but they are overpriced, especially considering the unreliability of Marshalls.

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Thank you @angusorvid8840 for chiming in and sharing your observations and insights.

[@markg9254]

Blackstar seem to be way more unreliable. Even on there main amp page it seems like problem after problem. I think in it's own the Blackstar sounds better, but Marshall better in a mix.

[@goodmanwiseman303]

Dude I had the same Marshall G80RCD for 15 years. Only thing that broke on it was the guitar input and that’s because I was always honking on it and eventually pulled it right out.

[@SuperBriandamage]

They said they did similar settings but it was clear that the Marshall was EQd brighter and you don't have to get as extreme with the Marshall to make it sound brighter..But easy fix with the black star put an EQ pedal in the effects Loop. If I push the od2 option 2 button in on my Blackstar HT 60 it is way tighter than the Marshall at the higher gain settings. You turn the gain high on OD2 on the Marshall and it turns into mush. So you need a good overdrive in front of it to tighten things up. Not as necessary on the Blackstar. The Reverb on the Marshall DSL is a joke. Even turned all the way up it's barely Audible. Even on the last Model it was the same thing.. it was very stupid of them for to overlook that. Believe me I love Marshall I've owned a lot of them but some of the stuff they do with their amps doesn't make any sense to me

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Great insights, thanks for sharing them here! 👍🏼

[@richcarroll7510]

Blackstar win this one clearly, 3 guys that left Marshall started Blackstar

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

@richcarroll7510 thanks for joining the dialog. The Blackstar backstory is an intersting one. We do plan to cover that in the future.

[@julianc.227]

I just don't like the Blackstar mids but I love the Marshall mids.

[@fastandreckless]

Blackstar hands down. Much better tone.

[@AnnoDomini-l3u]

Thumbs up Great video subbed Marshall

[@billyduff417]

I’ve had both. Marshall is just a better all around amp. Mine had a vintage 30 speaker in it and so did the blackstar. Marshall absolutely slayed the blackstar.

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Thanks @billyduff417 for sharing your specific experience and findings here. The more perspectives the better.

[@goodmanwiseman303]

The Marshall sounded way better except in the direct out and brown sound demos. Any other opinions are just trying to be edgy. Im not a Marshall fanboy for the record, I play an Orange.

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Thanks so much for joining the dialog and another vote for the Marshall is noted! 👍🏼

[@tabbyjamil2300]

I have both and tbh i love the Marshall just a little bit more...Blackstar is only better I the direct out .. Oh and Marshall is blackstars daddy so it Rules ... but if you get a chance to buy anyone the 2 amps buy anyone you like the sound of as they are both very good ..my plan is to keep the Marshall and also buy a jcm 900 duel reverb combo .. any good?

[@diegozunigagtz4602]

Is not the daddy,dont be confused... Is the toxic ex husband

[@ubrhsjvrkskbdkabaoehdnxk-xh5bq]

blackstar is cool but damn that marshall tone is really something!!

[@stefpenfield5918]

I'd prefer to hear all eq set to noon.

[@adamstein9333]

I have owned Both. Not the Same wattage though, I owned the Blackstar HT1 Metal, Marshall DSL1, and the Randall RD1. Also the Micro Dark terror and Joyo Bantamps though I will focus on the true tube amps. Marshall Wins Live sound. Blackstar Direct Wins and of course extra options. Randall was Garbage and I Love Randall, however that overpriced range, and over rated and highly priced (even used makes it not even reasonable to buy). Bugera keeps Up with older Blackstar if Your looking for a cheaper alternative. You guys did an awesome review! Thanks

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

@adamstein9333 thanks for the really helpful insights. We love to have insights from real owners of the gear and a wider view at the specific amps is also helpful. Thanks for sharing that and thanks for the kind words about the channel.

[@alvaroguimaraes8610]

Hey, how do you compare those to the Bantamps?

[@KanoDailyThePhilippinesandMore]

I have owned and played both of these. Unfortunately for both of them, there’s this thing called a 5150 Iconic now.

[@CarmineLombardi-e9f]

For me it was the "B" amp

[@DubZero1]

The Marshall DSL40C isn't as put together as the newer DSL40CR. If you like Blackstar then good for you. But remember that EQ settings and guitar controls would even that comparison out... End of the day, it's your playing that affects the tone more than anything else. Especially between 2 similar sounding amps.

[@1thess523]

I own a Marshall JCM 900 and JCM 2000 DSL 100 and recently acquired a Blackstar HT 50 MKii, The Blackstar wins here but Marshalls win over the Markii

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

We always love hearing from people that have owned the amps, thanks for sharing that here.

[@donciseau]

Excellent tones!

[@USA-sx1xi]

The scorpions tune sounded more like the tone on the album than the marshall to my ears. The marshall sounded harsh to me.

[@RJW14]

honestly, blackstar have interesting options but the DSL is just super versatile and maybe a bit more long lived than the blackstar, especially if it needs work done to it; blackstars and victories and similar amp brands are notoriously hard to work on. Tone wise tho, yeah every time I go looking for a marshall amp I buy something else, so I'd walk away with the blackstar still 😂

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Great insight. Thanks for sharing your perspective and experience.

[@olfoogy]

I have both but my dsl goes from 4 watts to 40 just like the blackstar...I love em both...I like the blackstar for my strat a little better though

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

That is fantastic input, thanks! We appreciate you adding that to the dialog here.

[@davidisenberg125]

i have gigged with the marshall dsl for years and slave it with a fender super champ xd so i can get EL84 sounds and 6L6 type sounds with footswitches .... the marshall footswitch is very fragile and hard to replace..... i use MXR distortion plus i got in the 70's and a solodano super overdrive so i don't need amp overdrive .... sometimes use the echoplex i got from danny gatton

[@VanirTraditionalist]

Split about even on the tone challenges. Both sound great overall. Tiebreaker goes to the model that costs hundreds of dollars less. Winner: Blackstar. (And no, I don’t own one).

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Thanks for that feedback, appreciated!

[@fedup3449]

My EX mate was the lead guitarist in UFO. He swore blind by Blackstar. I told him he was an arsehole. Turned out he was. He was wrong about the amps as well.

[@mcfek8295]

Blackstar is overall a better amp

[@tman6495]

Blackstar not as fizzy in OD...better clarity

[@BAND-MAID-USA]

Shoulda used the DSL40cr. Much better that the regular DAL40. And still cheaper than the Blackstar and better. And DSLcr has 2 channels with 2 different channels inside them. And it has a 6 channel footswitcher available.

[@stevenotto2581]

I had. DSL40. Constant trips to the shop. Blown tubes every 3 months. Got frustrated with it and gave it away. New owner had same issues. Finally it blew a power transformer. It was gonna cost more than the amp was woi to get it fixed and now its in the trash.

[@msaintpc]

Blackstar sounds muted and muddy compared to the Marshall. The Marshall's tone is clearer, fuller, fatter, more defined and chimier. No contest there. Btw I own both in 40 watts and 100 watts. The Blackstar sounds okay for high school gigs but not for loud outdoor concerts where muddiness is a no no.

[@nicknak5257]

I agree. I've got a the blackstar HT club 50 head and the muddiness is doing my head in now. Can't dial it out. It's ok for lead tones but has no bite for rhythm.

[@jcpunx1572]

Blackstar sound really better 😉

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Another Blackstar vote noted. ✔️ Thanks for being part of the dialog here.

[@musicman7773]

Blackstar are former Marshall developers

[@AvnerRosenstein-ULTRA-LXV]

Marshall wins all categories except for direct out.

[@saintghost]

uuu marshall the best

[@angelverastigue5848]

Someone with a boss katana 50 mk2👀

[@rocknchuck]

Marsha Marsha Marsha

[@USA-sx1xi]

My ears simply liked the Blackstar.

[@stewarttomkinson3356]

Amp 2 cleaner

[@AudioNumeric]

Marshall, ALL THE WAY…. 😮

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Great, thanks for joining the dialog here.

[@goodheartmedia]

I have the Blackstar HT100 mkiii head and a DSL100HR. Compared thru the same cab, I prefer the Blackstar. For the combo, the Blackstar needs a speaker change. The Seventy80 stock speaker does not do that amp justice.

[@NoFearGuitarGear]

Great feedback and insights. Thanks!

[@SuperBriandamage]

In time and alot of playing you may like the 70/80 They have pretty big magnets and take a while to break in.

[@darkcide1959]

Marshall.